Door-controlled electric-lighting switch



1 be open.

llatented Een., l?, i927,

UlililEB STATES JOSEPH M. KERN, 0F OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

l DOOR-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC-.LIGHTING SWITCH.

Application filed June 6,

the switch is independent ot the door, theV light in the room to whichthe door leads is frequently lett burning` through inadvertence ot theuser after leaving the room resulting in considerable waste of electriccurrent, and the main object of my present invention is to avoid thiswaste byr making the operation oi the switch to open the lightingcircuit leading to such room dependent upon the closing et the door,which is lessvliable to be forgotten by the use-r than the turning outot the light.

Another object is to provide the samek switch boi: with means operableat will by the occupant ot the room tor displacing the door operatedswitch opening means when the door is closed and thereby permitting theswitch to close to energize the lamp or lamps in such room and also topermit the last named means to be used for operating anek other switchopening device so that the light may be turned out even though the doormay Other objects and uses relating to specific parts ot the device willbe brought out in the following description:

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan of one form of my door-controlled lightingswitchincorporated in the door casing shown in section and also showingl aportion ot a door tor controlling the operation of the switch.

Figure 2 is an inner tace view of the switch-box and mechanism thereinwith the inner cover plate removed.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane of line 33, Figure 2 looking toward the top oit the switch-box.

lligure l is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane ofline flfmt, Figure 2. Y

As illustrated, this device comprises a switch-box -ladapted to beinstalled in the door casing as A- or receiving and supporting a pair otswitch terminals -2- and -9/- of an electric lighting circuit in whichis connected one or more electric lamps adapted to be placed in the roomto which the door as D-f leads, said door be 1922.k ScrialNo. 566,274.

ing connected by hinge 0,- to the door casing -A- tor controlling theopening and closing ot the switch terminals -2- and -2 in avmannerhereinafter described.

The switclrbox -lis provided with a removable inner cover plate '-3--held in place by screws A- or equivalent tastening means, the switchboxbeing also pro vided with a removable `end plate -5- which is also heldin place by screws -6-. The switch terminals -2- and 2- are mounted uponan insulating block '-7- and are electrically connected to binding posts8- and 8- which are secured to the block and form continuationus of thevterminals -2- and -2-,but are insulated from each other by spacing themapart on said block7 while the terminals 2* and -2- are normally springpressed into electrical contact with each other as shown more clearly inFigure 3, thereby closing the circuit through suitable wires -9- leadingto the electric light or lights in the cellar, bathroom, attic or otherrooin where the light is to be controlled by the door, f

Thewend plate -5-q of the switch-box is provided with a guide opening-lO- for receiving a push-rod -l0--, which normally projects outwardlythrough and some dis- 'tance beyond said wal'l to be engaged and forcedinwardly against the action of ya com-` pression spring -llby theclosing ot the door -D-, said spring` serving to return the push rodwhen the door is open.

The block -7- carrying the spring terminals M2- and MQ- and bindingposts -8- and -8- is inserted between one of the end walls as -5- andguide ribs -12- at the end ot the switch-box opposite the removable endwall -5- and push-rod -lO and may be removed for adjustment or repairsot' the terminals when the cover plate -8-' is removed.

rlhe terminals -2- and -2- extend inwardly from the block -7- toward thepush rod --l0- and their tree ends, which nor mally contact with eachother under the spring-tension of the terminals, are adapted to beseparated to open the switch by a suit able device carried by the pushrod l0- when thev latter is Jforced inwardly by the closing of the door-D-- For this purpose, the inner end of the push rod is provided with anenlargement or head -l3- carrying a pawl leot insulating material whichis pivoted at ela-e to ,said head and has its inner end --1G-wedge-shaped and normally alined with the nieetingg,` faces ot theterininals 2- and -2 so that when the push rod is forced inwzirdlyvagainst. the aetioiioi the sl'iring -li-, its wedge-shaped inner end -ltwill be 'forced between the adjacent faces ot 'the terminals toseparati-e them and thereby to open the switch and cle-energize thelighting circuit.

The spring; -ll-- for the push rod --l0- is interposed between the inner:tace ol: the head --l3- and a. stationar7 block 11'- on the lower sideof the switelrbox, said bloel; being` provided with a Socket forreceiving the inner end of a stein -1T- on said head and around wnichthe .spring -llis coiled7 thesoelret serving as a guide for the innerend of the push rod -lO--.

lt, therefore, i'iolloiisI that when the door is closed, the pue-h roti10H will be forced inv-ardlj,7 to open the switch terininals -2- und -2and that when the door is open, 'the push rod will be toi ed outwardlyby the Spring -llto perinit the tern'iinals to close one against theother.

The object in piif'oting;l 'the pawl 14tat -l5- to the head 13 is topern'iit its free end to be forced troni between the terininals 2%- and'-2- in a. manner hereinafter described ifi/hen the door is closed andthereby to allow the terminals to close one against the other forenergiZingI the lighting circuit in case the light should be required inthe rooni when the door i s closed7 as 'iter example, when the neer isin the cellar or other rooin in which the light is located.

A flat retracting spring -l8e is Secured at one end to the end wall -5-olf the switch-,box and has its Vlfiee end bearing agains' the loweredge ol the pawl elfi to restore the latter to its noi'inal positionwhen the push rod -l()- released b 'v the opening otvthe door.

Suitable'ni'eans is provided wherehV the ogenino` and Clot" b' ol" theierinii'ialfI 2d and ef inail* i controlled at: the will o't' the`operator independeiilfly olf the door-operated push rod. 'ltte, Saidineaiis ifoiupl'`y ing' a secoiiilai5v push rod #lwhich isieiiigiioenlljx movable in i, igniifle opening.;l 2l-m in the lii'ontwall Mlle# ol the sii'itigl'ibox at right angles to the direction ol'.uiovenient to the push rod ltl--7 said izeeoiiilai'y push rod beingmovable inwardly against the action ol1 a eon'ipifession spring` 2l/weand providet with a transverse slot just inside ol the iront wall -3-for receivino" one karin m23- ot a bell crank lever Qfl--e which ispivotedv at to a seuil;- ahle hose -2t3-- on the inside ol the front'wall A--3- and hai: its other ai'in --52 adapted to engage a vpin ateoi; the adiai'eiit .side ol a movable bloeit nit/Le.

This bloot; 29M si. table 4vnisreisely ot the direction oit n'ioveinentof the push rod i/EO- and is proviifled with a guide stein -3Oi inovahlein a` Socket 31H on the lower wall ol the ,switch-box.

A coil .spring --32e- Asurrounds the interinediate portion ol the stern30- hetween the sliding bloc-l; -2tl and lower wall or the ,switehhoxtor yieldingly holding' the sliding block in its norinal position.

This block 29W is pro'i'f'ided with a downwardly projecting arin 33Mwhieh is adapted to engage a laterally projecting lugr 94ton the pawl-l-ltor tripping said pawl Ltroni between the terminals Q- and 2 whenthe push rod 10- is forced inwardly by the closing of the door and. thesecondaryv push rod QON is forced iuwardly to cause the bell crank lever--Q' to operate the slidingl ibloel 29- and its arin against the lug-31l-.

That is, the arn'i -lt3- is disposed in the plane ot inoi'enient ot thelui; -oilbut is norni-all5y held out ot the path ot nioveinent of Saidlug; by the spring but when the door is closed and the plunger -10- andluf@`l are inored inwardly to cause the pawl -llto open the switchterminals --2- and -2, said lug will be brought dii unt er or in thepath of inoveinent of the ltti-in 233 at whieh time, the lighti'nigcircuit wil he ile-energized and il' the .rater desires to energize:Paid circuit while rooin in which the light is loea'teth it is einiplynecessary to push the rod 2ilinwardly against the action ol .itseoiiipression Y ringill/ therebli7 causing the "nii'ard niort-,nient otthe .sliding` ariii against the action ol the spring,y 3Q-f through thei'nediuin oit the hell crank lever --Q/lhy which operation, the ai'inerniinals 2M allow l; 2e to close one :i` loi' euri ditioiipa again thefiiiiiiiig M18-M lu New; in i: `vs while will alfffo be i turned to itsnoi-unil ponitioii iii alineinent with the terminals by tlie llat,spring --ltlM leaving the teii'ninals still closed.

Si table ineans is provided wherel'iy the terminals inalv he:'ejiiaii'ated to break the lie'l'itino' (,'ii'ruit when the doin) isopen, and

interior ol the ffii'iti-t rox and haifiuggj its` i i v i -1 l ot SieDioiitleil ,with :i idr-,ide W559i lll) lli

registering with the meeting 'aces ot the terminals --2w and -2- at oneside thereot for entrance between said' terminalspto separate the samelighting circuit.

In order that the pawl may be operated by the push rod -20-, theintermediate portion is disposed in the path ot movement of a shouldereStl-on the inner edge of the sliding block m29 whereby when said blockis operated by the inward movement oi the plunger-2O through the mediumot the bell crank lever Q4- the shoulder -39- will engage the upper edgeot' the pawl 35- to rock its free end downwardly upon its pivot -36- andthereby cause said 'tree end to enter between and separate the terminals-2- and --2- for breaking the lighting circuit independently ot the dooroperated push rod -10-.

lThe pawl -35 is provided on its lower edge with a shoulder -eladaptedto project into the path oiE movement ot the inner upper edge of: thehead -13- ot the push rod -l()- when the inner end of the pawl 35- isforced between the terminals -2 and -2 and the push rod *20* is at itsextreme outward movement and it, therefore, follows that it' the door isclosed to force the push rod -lO- inwardly, the inner upper end ot thehead 1S- will engage the shoulder *a0* and thereby lift and hold thefree end -38-- of the pawl -35- out of engagement with the meeting facesof the terminals Q and -2--.

and thereby to breakthe while the same inward movement of thepush rodl0-- will cause the inner' end 16- ot the pawl 14- to enter between theterminals to break the lighting circuit. It .it is desired to light thelamps while the door is closed and the operator is in the room 'to whichthe door leads, it is simply necessary' to push the rod w20- inwardly,thereby causing the arm -33- on the slidim;l block Q9 to displace thepawl .--14- from between the terminals and allowing the latter Ato closeior energizing the lighting circuit aiter which the blocks -29- may bereturned by the spring --3Q- leaving the wedges 16M and --33 :itopposite sides oi' the closed tern'iiuals.

The arm -33 preterably made ot spring metal so that in case the push rod@Q- should be forced inwardly while the push rod is at its innermostposition, the shoulder -34- would simply engage and deflect the tree endof said spring arm --33 against its own tension without liability otbreaking or impairing any, of the parts.

M `What I claim is zl. In a door-controlled electric light switch, apair of spring-terminals normally tensioned to contact with each otherfor closing an electric lighting circuit, a push-rod carrying a pivotedpawl and adapted to be operated bythe closing ot' a door to orce thepawl between the terminals and thereby to break the lighting circuit, aspring for operating the push rod and pawl to permit the closing ot' theterminals when the door is opened, an additional. push rod operable at`will transversely of the movement et the Erst-named push-rod, and meansactuated by the second-named push rod 'for separating said terminals andthereby breaking the circuit when the pawl ot the first-named puso rodis withdrawn from between the terminals by the opening oit the door.

2. In a door-controlled electric lighting switch, a pair oitI springterminals of an electric lighting switch tensioned to normally contactone with the other, a push rod adapted to be operated in one directionby the closing of a door, a spring for returning the push rod, a pawlpivoted to the push rod and movable therewith between the terminals whenthe door is closed for separating said terminals and thereby breakingthe lighting circuit, an additional push rod movable transversely or'the movement of the first-named push rod, means actuated by the movementof the second-named push rod in one direction for displacing said pawltrom between the terminals and thereby allowing the terminals to contactwith each other for closing the lighting circuit when the door is closedand a spring for returning the pawl to its normal position when theiirst-named push rod is permitted to be returned by its spring when thedoor is opened.

3. In a door-controlled electric lighting switch, a pair of springterminals of an electric lighting circuit normally tensioned with eachother tor closing said circuit, separate pivoted pawls each movable toand from a position between the terminals for separating the same andthereby breaking the lighting circuit, a door operated push rod forforcing one of said pawls between the terminals7 means including aseparate push rod operable at will for 'forcing the other pawl betweenthe terminals when the `door-operated pawl is returned and a spring torreturning the door-operated push rod and pawl actuated thereby 4l. In adoor-controlled electric ligl'iting switch, normally closed self-closingcontacts ot an electric lighting circuit, a. pivoted pawl movable to andfrom a position between they contacts for separating the same andthereby breaking the lighting circuit, means including a push rodoperable at will for forcing said pawl between the contacts, a separatepush rod operable in one direction by the closing of the door, meansactuated by the second-named push rod when operated by the closing otthe door for tripping the pawl from between the contacts and meansactuated by the Secondniained push rofl when actuated by the closing ofthe door for separating said contacts.

5. In a door-controlled electric light switch, a pair of Springterminalsnormally tensioned to cont-uct with each other for closing un electriclighting circuit, a push rod having zt pawl adapted t0 be operated bythe closing elf ay Cleor to torce the pztwl between the terminals andthereby tobreak the lighting circuit, u spring for operating the pushrod und paw] to permit the closing of the terminals when the door isopened. and a movable nicinber Operable :it will :for Sepurating Suid'terminals and thereby breakingr the circuit when the puwl et Suhl pushred is withdrawn freni between the teriiiinels b v the Opening et thedeer.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto sci; my hund this 29th clay el? May1922.

JOSEPH M. KERN.

